Isaac Parker

Isaac Charles Parker
Painting of Judge Isaac Parker, circa 1896.
U.S. District Judge presiding over the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
In office March 19, 1875 – November 17, 1896
Nominated by	Ulysses S. Grant
Preceded by	William Story
Succeeded by	John Henry Rogers
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 7th district
In office March 4, 1871 – March 4, 1875
Preceded by	Joel Funk Asper
Succeeded by	Thomas Theodore Crittenden
Judge of the 12th Missouri Circuit Court
In office 1868–1870
Personal details
Born	(1838-10-15)October 15, 1838 Barnesville, Ohio, US
Died	November 17, 1896(1896-11-17) (aged 58) Fort Smith, Arkansas, US
Spouse(s)	Mary O'Toole

Isaac Charles Parker (October 15, 1838 – November 17, 1896) was an American politician and jurist. He served as the United States Congressman for Missouri's 7th congressional district for two terms and presided over the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas for 21 years.

He became known as the "Hanging Judge" of the American Old West due to the large number of convicts that he sentenced to death. In 21 years on the federal bench, Judge Parker tried 13,490 cases. In more than 8,500 of these cases, the defendant either pleaded guilty or was convicted at trial. Parker sentenced 160 people to death; 79 of them were executed.

Parker's health deteriorated in the 1890s and the jurisdiction and power of his court were reduced by Congress. In September 1896, Congress effectively closed the District Court for the Western District of Arkansas by removing its jurisdiction. Shortly after, on November 17, 1896, Parker died of complications due to Bright's disease. He is buried in Fort Smith.

Parker was the youngest son of Joseph Parker and his wife Jane Shannon, and the great-nephew of Ohio Governor Wilson Shannon. He was raised on the family farm near Barnesville, Ohio. He attended Breeze Hill Primary School, followed by the Barnesville Classical Institute, a private school. He taught in a county primary school to pay for his secondary education. At 17, he began an apprenticeship in law, and passed the Ohio bar exam in 1859.

Parker moved to St. Joseph, Missouri between 1859 and 1861 and worked at his maternal uncle's law firm of Shannon and Branch. On December 12, 1861, Parker married Mary O'Toole, with whom he had sons Charles and James. By 1862, Parker had his own law firm and was working in the municipal and country courts.